Relegation-battling Reims were on the cusp of securing only their second win of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 campaign last weekend at Troyes, but after conceding a 90th-minute equaliser they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. Junya Ito’s red card in the 56th minute did not help their cause, and coach Óscar García will have to do without the Japanese striker (G3, A1) for this test against league-leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
After receiving a red card in three of their opening four top-flight home games, the Red and Whites will have to be far more careful if they are to upset the odds and claim their first win at Stade Auguste-Delaune this season (D2, L2). Getting on the scoresheet should prove key given that Reims have lost none of the four home H2Hs in which they found the net in the 21st century (W2, D2)!
Visiting PSG may have won the last five H2H meetings ‘to-nil’, but things could be different this time as they have only two days to recover from their midweek UEFA Champions League trip to Portugal where they drew 1-1 with Benfica. It was the only second time this season that they let the victory evade them (D2), and coach Christophe Galtier spoke frankly afterwards, stating that the result was “fair”.
The Parisians bring impressive away league form to Champagne with six consecutive wins – the best current run across Europe’s top five leagues – and the know-how of boss Galtier, who has lost just one of 15 personal H2Hs vs Reims (W7, D7, L1), is another good omen. PSG can additionally look to their U19 team for inspiration here as they trounced Reims 9-0 in the National U19 league last weekend!
Players to watch: Reims will hope Folarin Balogun can find the net given they’ve claimed points in the last four games he scored in (W1, D3), while Kylian Mbappé has been involved in 100% of PSG’s goals across their last three Ligue 1 road trips to Auguste-Delaune (G3, A2).
Hot streak: PSG have scored first within 15 minutes in the last three H2Hs held here.
